BUDDHISM

Key Person(s)

or Founder(s),

Date,

Location

Was wealthy prince. On a journey saw a old

man, sick man, and corpse. How could life end like this??

Became a monk, meditated for a month, achieved nirvana, began teaching

Siddhartha Gautama

(c. 560s-480s B.C.),

The Buddha is regarded

as the founder

Sutras–the sacred

words and teachings

of The Buddha

Tripitaka (Pali Canon) –

“baskets” the sacred words of

Buddha & his pupils (Theravada)

KEY WRITINGS

Mahayana Sutras –

words of Buddha &

Mahayanna Buddhists

Tibetan Book of the Dead – rituals on death,

discusses life between death & next life (bardo)

View of

God & The

Universe

Atheistic – no supernatural

supreme being or force. It is

all about “looking within”

Polytheistic – Many deities

exist and can be worshipped • Bodhisattvas – those

reaching enlightenment but

stay to teach

• Maitreya – “Buddha yet to

come” who will bring global

enlightenment

Human

Situation &

Purpose

anicca – “impermanence.”

Everything is changing,

there is nothing that stays

the same

anatta – “non-self” or

“substanceless.” Humans

have no soul. They are

compounds of matter,

sensations, perceptions,

mental formations, &

consciousness

Human

Situation &

Purpose

dukkha – “sorrow,”

“suffering”. Suffering is

part of reality and

happens because of

our attachments to people,

things, & ideas

"I teach suffering, its origin, cessation and path. That's all I teach.”

-The Buddha

The Four Noble Truths 1. All of life is marked by suffering.

2. Suffering is caused by desire and

attachment.

3. Suffering can be stopped.

4. The way to end suffering is to follow

the Noble Eightfold Path.

Human

Situation &

Purpose

Human

Situation &

Purpose The Nobel Eightfold Path

Life is a journey. Death is a return to earth. The universe is like an inn. The passing years are like dust. Regard this phantom world As a star at dawn, a bubble in a stream, A flash of lightning in a summer cloud, A flickering lamp - a phantom - and a dream.

—The Buddha

What is Our

Destiny?

(Afterlife)

What is Our

Destiny?

(Afterlife)

Nirvana – Nirvana, which means “extinction” or “blowing out” or “bliss”, is

the letting go of individual identity & desires

Reincarnation – rebirth into another life until

you have release from karma

Different Branches of Buddhism exist

Other Key

Practices &

Beliefs

Mahayana Theravada

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Practices &

Beliefs

Dalai Lama Tibetan Buddhism

Successor in a line of “tuluks”

Incarnation of the Bodhisattva

of Compassion

Leader of free Tibet

The Wheel of Life Symbolizes reincarnation

Eightfold path

Lotus Flower Symbolizes divine birth,

purity & impermanence

Mantras & Prayer

A word, a syllable, a phrase or a

short prayer that is spoken once

or repeated over and over again

to have a deep spiritual experience.

Example: “om mani padme hum” =

"Behold! The jewel in the lotus!",

Other Key

Practices &

Beliefs

Meditation

Means of transforming the

mind & being able to see true

nature of things

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Practices &

Beliefs

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Practices &

Beliefs

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Practices &

Beliefs

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Practices &

Beliefs

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Practices &

Beliefs